Jason Collins about to sign 10 day contract with Nets expected to start tonight vs Lakers

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Probably because this guy has been out of commission for the past couple of years and now he comes out and he gets signed. I doubt he would've otherwise if it was based on basketball skill alone.

Yes sports breakdown barriers and provided social commentary but that's usually the secondary story because the players/teams involved were too talented to be ignored and primarily judged on that. I feel in this case its the reverse he's only getting recognition more for his sexual orientation and not for his basketball talent.

Real progress will be made when him or any player being openly gay isn't the main storyline.

Its like when Tony Dungy was the first black coach to win the SB that was a big storyline but when Mike Tomlin did that with the Steelers he was just like any other coach.

That to me was progress.

He's been out the last couple of years? Uh....no, he played last season for Boston.

And yes he came out....what, 6 months ago? Yeah, he got signed now, generally when older vets do get signed by playoff teams, after the trade deadline.

Out of curiosity, do you carefully scrutinize every team's 10-day signees over whether or not they were deserving of that contract, or just this one? Amazingly you've been on PD for 6 years now, yet I don't recall your heart bleeding for any other fringe free agent signees before this one.

Last edited by Kstat; 02-23-2014 at 06:56 PM.

It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

Probably because this guy has been out of commission for the past couple of years and now he comes out and he gets signed. I doubt he would've otherwise if it was based on basketball skill alone.

Yes sports breakdown barriers and provided social commentary but that's usually the secondary story because the players/teams involved were too talented to be ignored and primarily judged on that. I feel in this case its the reverse he's only getting recognition more for his sexual orientation and not for his basketball talent.

Real progress will be made when him or any player being openly gay isn't the main storyline.

Its like when Tony Dungy was the first black coach to win the SB that was a big storyline but when Mike Tomlin did that with the Steelers he was just like any other coach.

That to me was progress.

He played and started some games last season so it's not like he's been out of the league 2+ years. He's odviously not a very good player but he's a tough vet, who provides size and interior D. It's not like the pool of FA bigs is so alluring that Collins isn't deserving of a 10 day signing based on skill alone.

I wonder if the NBA will retire his #35 league wide like baseball did with Jackie Robinson's 42? Someday down the line, Kevin Durant might be the last player grandfathered in with the #35, just like Mariano Rivera was with Jackie Robinson's #42.

I honestly have no idea whether or not this is sarcasm. You seem to be a reasonably bright guy, so I'm guessing it is.

Honestly, I think Jason Collins at this point is every bit as good as Kendrick Perkins. Which is not a compliment or an insult. He's a big body who can walk, chew gum, and play defense. That's his value. The Nets needed such a presence in their frontcourt and he has a familiarity with KG and Pierce. It makes sense basketball wise.

Why would you need to buy your way into the league when teams are paying you to play in it?

Its an expression(a poorly worded one apparently) that he wasn't really considered a big deal as far as a signing because he wasn't that good but because he comes out and is signed its a big deal?

I get why it would be a big deal for some people and I'm trying not to minimize that but giving this dude a 10 day contract just screams PR stunt more than they're serious about him as a player. And I doubt someone who was considered a scrub a year ago would be making national news for being signed had he not come out.

Who knows maybe he'll give the Nets a reason to extend his stay beyond the 10 day contract but I'd be surprised.

Its an expression(a poorly worded one apparently) that he wasn't really considered a big deal as far as a signing because he wasn't that good but because he comes out and is signed its a big deal?

I get why it would be a big deal for some people and I'm trying not to minimize that but giving this dude a 10 day contract just screams PR stunt more than they're serious about him as a player. And I doubt someone who was considered a scrub a year ago would be making national news for being signed had he not come out.

Given that their biggest need is exactly what Jason Collins brings, this is ridiculous.

And yes, it is national news. The nets get some good PR for it, and good for them.

Maybe if this was taken care of a decade ago, nobody would be talking about this today.

It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

He already played in the league and then he came out....so he already is the 1st openly gay player to play in the NBA before this contract. I know at the time he wasn't out of the closet, but once he did come out, he automatically became the 1st openly gay NBA player. It's not like he just turned gay 6 months ago.

Good for Collins, good for the NBA, good for sports. Only downside is how I have to hear people tell me aggressively how they don't care that there's a gay NBA player.

The reaction is more along the lines of Miley Cyrus being on Yahoo "news" every time she bends over. The only reason there are 3 pages in this thread is because we are arguing over whether it's news...not because it IS news.

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He's been out the last couple of years? Uh....no, he played last season for Boston.

And yes he came out....what, 6 months ago? Yeah, he got signed now, generally when older vets do get signed by playoff teams, after the trade deadline.

Out of curiosity, do you carefully scrutinize every team's 10-day signees over whether or not they were deserving of that contract, or just this one? Amazingly you've been on PD for 6 years now, yet I don't recall your heart bleeding for any other fringe free agent signees before this one.

And how many of these 10 day signings warrant a PC like Jason Collins did? That's the thing people talk about how this shouldn't be considered a big deal its just basketball except its not being treated as basketball but a PR stunt. Its not like he was suddenly gay just now everyone knows. His skill set to me anyways isn't impressive enough to warrant this attention.

If it were just a regular 10 day signing it would be treated like everyone else a mere blurb on the NBA section of ESPN like Sasha Vujacic signing a 10 day contract with the Clippers and cut afterwards and I think he was a better player than Jason Collins was in the NBA.

I don't know why it bothers you when I criticize his lack of basketball talent I mean its no different than saying I don't think Tim Tebow is a good NFL QB. It doesn't mean I have an issue with him being a devout Christian. Yet that's far more accepting of a criticism than saying Jason Collins isn't a very good basketball player.

And how many of these 10 day signings warrant a PC like Jason Collins did? That's the thing people talk about how this shouldn't be considered a big deal its just basketball except its not being treated as basketball but a PR stunt. Its not like he was suddenly gay just now everyone knows. His skill set to me anyways isn't impressive enough to warrant this attention.

If it were just a regular 10 day signing it would be treated like everyone else a mere blurb on the NBA section of ESPN like Sasha Vujacic signing a 10 day contract with the Clippers and cut afterwards and I think he was a better player than Jason Collins was in the NBA.

I don't know why it bothers you when I criticize his lack of basketball talent I mean its no different than saying I don't think Tim Tebow is a good NFL QB. It doesn't mean I have an issue with him being a devout Christian. Yet that's far more accepting of a criticism than saying Jason Collins isn't a very good basketball player.

That must be how Collins lasted 12 years in his profession like Tebow did...you know, the gayness.

Jason Collins can get a contact for 12 straight seasons on his own merits, but if he plays 13, it's because he's gay. Gotcha.

I'm with you when you say this is only news because he's gay. Comparing him to Tim Tebow is just idiotic. Last I checked Christians have been allowed in the nfl for a while now, and Tebow hasn't proven himself as a professional for over a decade.

Last edited by Kstat; 02-23-2014 at 09:03 PM.

It wasn't about being the team everyone loved, it was about beating the teams everyone else loved.

I don't know why it bothers you when I criticize his lack of basketball talent.

Its bothersome first of all because it's factually wrong. You're saying that Collins is not a good enough player to be in the league if he wasn't gay. So what that means is that being openly gay HELPS you get a job in professional sports. If that were the case, why is he the only openly gay athlete in major sports history?

If Jason Collins was not gay, do you think he would have a job on an NBA team?

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If Jason Collins was not gay, do you think he would have a job on an NBA team?

The guy averages a couple points per game I don't know about you but that isn't very good to most people. The only thing he really had going for him athletic wise is that he's 7 ft tall and can pickup fouls. So can any D-Leaguer but nobody is touting them right now are they?

No I don't think at this point in his career he would have a job if he didn't come out. I mean who was really checking for him after the Celtics dumped him? Then a few months ago he came out and now he's been signed to a team albeit for a 10 day contract.

The season is almost over and the Nets who have proven to be a total disappointment and have been told as such by the media. The Nets decided to go with someone they know since Big Baby went elsewhere and well has a good PR angle going for him(Nets make history with an openly gay player) and for a few days the NBA gets more coverage than the NFL and the Nets are known as being a progressive team rather than an epic fail on the court.

And that will take up most of the headlines rather than the fact that Jason Collins isn't that good a player and wouldn't warrant a press conference over a 10 day contract had he not come out as an openly gay man.

Comparing him to Tim Tebow is just idiotic. Last I checked Christians have been allowed in the nfl for a while now, and Tebow hasn't proven himself as a professional for over a decade.

And gays weren't? Just because they didn't admit it doesn't mean they weren't playing in the NFL or any other sport. My point with the Tebow comparison is people resented the excessive coverage over him because he was this devout Christian and was open about it but not that great an NFL QB(despite having a great college career). His religion was more of a focal point than his play.

I don't see a difference with Jason Collins here in that regard where him being gay is more of a focal point than his play.

The guy averages a couple points per game I don't know about you but that isn't very good to most people. The only thing he really had going for him athletic wise is that he's 7 ft tall and can pickup fouls. So can any D-Leaguer but nobody is touting them right now are they?

No I don't think at this point in his career he would have a job if he didn't come out. I mean who was really checking for him after the Celtics dumped him? Then a few months ago he came out and now he's been signed to a team albeit for a 10 day contract.

The season is almost over and the Nets who have proven to be a total disappointment and have been told as such by the media. The Nets decided to go with someone they know since Big Baby went elsewhere and well has a good PR angle going for him(Nets make history with an openly gay player) and for a few days the NBA gets more coverage than the NFL and the Nets are known as being a progressive team rather than an epic fail on the court.

And that will take up most of the headlines rather than the fact that Jason Collins isn't that good a player and wouldn't warrant a press conference over a 10 day contract had he not come out as an openly gay man.

And gays weren't? Just because they didn't admit it doesn't mean they weren't playing in the NFL or any other sport. My point with the Tebow comparison is people resented the excessive coverage over him because he was this devout Christian and was open about it but not that great an NFL QB(despite having a great college career). His religion was more of a focal point than his play.

I don't see a difference with Jason Collins here in that regard where him being gay is more of a focal point than his play.

According to Basketball Reference there are 25 players in the league this year who have averaged less than a point a game. By your logic he's more than worthy of a ten day contract. And he's a much better defender than the rest of the players on that list.

Jason Collins hasn't played in over 50 games since 2008 and hasn't averaged over 2PPG since 2007. He is a career 41% field goal shooter and he is 7 feet tall. He has never averaged over 1 BPG in any season.

He is not a good basketball player.

Symbolically it is great, but why on earth the Nets signed him I have no idea. I honestly don't think it's because he's gay, I just think it's Jason Kidd giving a friend a job.

Very likely, dozens of NBA players are gay, and very likely >5% of NBA players throughout history have been gay, considering >5% of the population is gay (though the estimate varies widely, 3% up to 10%, the Kinsey estimate).

It's great that Jason had the courage to come out and that the Nets had the courage to consider him to fill a need on their injury-depleted bench. Will he produce more than Andrew Bynum? Maybe, though Bynum obviously has more talent when healthy.

I don't get the anger at him for wanting to play, or the anger at the Nets for a "publicity stunt" that, for all I can see, was done for basketball reasons.

Last edited by Slick Pinkham; 02-23-2014 at 10:10 PM.

The poster "pacertom" since this forum began (and before!). I changed my name here to "Slick Pinkham" in honor of the imaginary player That Bobby "Slick" Leonard picked late in the 1971 ABA draft (true story!)